Singing like just about any skill you can procure will take dedication and effort. In my opinion anybody can sing if they work at it hard enough and want to succeed. There are some basic fundamentals to singing e.g. Breath control, microphone technique, articulation, pitch and overall vocal fitness to take into consideration but these abilities can be learnt over a period and if you truly have a passion for music are all able to be mastered.
Singing in Public for the 1st Time
When you feel you have the basics down and feel at ease with your voice you should look to get on stage or find a chance to perform in front of people. This should not be competitive however, avoid singing competitions for now. If you haven’t performed in front of a genuine audience up to this point trust me when I say that you do not need the extra pressure of competing. Look for an opportunity that’s a less threatening like the local karaoke bar. Karaoke is a terrific way to get familiar with performing and as almost all of the crowd watching you may well finish up performing themselves you wont feel the same level of intimidation as when the audience is there for listening only.
Song Selection
Good songs to sing at your first live performance will be those you are utterly happy with. You should be able to perform your song of choice without thinking about the words and the song should fit comfortably in your vocal range. Performing live isn’t the right time to test your vocal range.
Some Basic Mike Tips
This could be a piece in itself so we will only cover a few basic tips. Rule 1 – when you first walk onstage don’t tap the microphone to test it is working. Nothing looks worse than this. If you actually are uncertain about the microphone talk into it and quickly introduce yourself. You’ll soon know if there is a problem. Secondly hold the mic steady, you need to maintain a consistent volume. If you’re prone to moving the mic too much you’ll notice this becomes a problem. As you become more advanced you’ll learn when to move the mic farther away when you’re really belting it out and closer when you are singing more quietly but for now try to hold it steady.
Click here for more guidance on singing and picking good songs to sing for your first performance.